(143) What happened at Little Lord's party (5)
Ariana glanced back at Cyrus.
He waited for Ariana's answer with an elegant demeanor like a flower blooming in a bloody scene.
'That might be better. If Count Geo's vengeance is directed at both the Northern Lord and me, then the Northern Lord will take care of Count Geo's affairs.'
Even if he were to be left alive, it was inevitable that Count Geo's family would harbor resentment. In that case, it would be better to clip at least one of Harold's wings.
Besides, it could also serve as a warning to other nobles not to mess with Ariana.
"I am."
Everyone held their breath and waited for Ariana's answer.
“I can’t forgive you.”
Harold took a step forward, and Fabric made a strange "Huh!" sound. Before the nobles could even gasp, "Huh!"
Sreung-
The sword moved.
The party ended there. A party that ended without a conclusion. A party that ended in blood.
But for Ariana, it was a very successful party.
'With this, people will be convinced that there is something between the Northern Lord and me.'
Since the Northern Lord had come to the party, there would have been a lot of gossip about their relationship. In that case, it would be better to make it clear.
'As long as the Northern Lord acts for me, those who are not so good will not even think of stabbing me.'
Now, she didn't care what Cyrus thought of her. If he wanted to use her, she could use him, too. That was the plan from the beginning.
As the master of the mansion, Geor was trying to handle the situation, while Ariana and Cyrus sat facing each other in the drawing room.
Ariana opened her mouth.
“I didn’t know that the Northern Lord had feelings for Little Count Geo’s family.”
“I have no feelings for Little Count Geo. I simply punished him appropriately for his terrible actions.”
“If anyone saw you, they would think he touched my body.”
“You’d be better off laying a hand on me. Isn’t the Princess’s body precious?!”
Ariana glanced back at Cyrus.
He waited for Ariana's answer with an elegant demeanor like a flower blooming in a bloody scene.
'That might be better. If Count Geo's vengeance is directed at both the Northern Lord and me, then the Northern Lord will take care of Count Geo's affairs.'
Even if he were to be left alive, it was inevitable that Count Geo's family would harbor resentment. In that case, it would be better to clip at least one of Harold's wings.
Besides, it could also serve as a warning to other nobles not to mess with Ariana.
"I am."
Everyone held their breath and waited for Ariana's answer.
“I can’t forgive you.”
Harold took a step forward, and Fabric made a strange "Huh!" sound. Before the nobles could even gasp, "Huh!"
Sreung-
The sword moved.
***
The party ended there. A party that ended without a conclusion. A party that ended in blood.
But for Ariana, it was a very successful party.
'With this, people will be convinced that there is something between the Northern Lord and me.'
Since the Northern Lord had come to the party, there would have been a lot of gossip about their relationship. In that case, it would be better to make it clear.
'As long as the Northern Lord acts for me, those who are not so good will not even think of stabbing me.'
Now, she didn't care what Cyrus thought of her. If he wanted to use her, she could use him, too. That was the plan from the beginning.
As the master of the mansion, Geor was trying to handle the situation, while Ariana and Cyrus sat facing each other in the drawing room.
Ariana opened her mouth.
“I didn’t know that the Northern Lord had feelings for Little Count Geo’s family.”
“I have no feelings for Little Count Geo. I simply punished him appropriately for his terrible actions.”
“If anyone saw you, they would think he touched my body.”
“You’d be better off laying a hand on me. Isn’t the Princess’s body precious?!”
“Do you think the Northern Prince is the only one?! The Gio clan will surely seek revenge for this.”
"There are many who will protect me. The one who killed the Little Count was a Northern lord, so shouldn't you be careful?! Since you offended a noble of the empire, it might be difficult to let it go quietly."
Cyrus crossed his legs. He stared intently at his knees as he spoke.
"It's better if things like this are a little noisy. That way, no one will try to tamper with the Princess like the Western Lord."
Ariana also lowered her gaze.
'Why is the Northern Lord doing that again?'
Three years ago, after Ariana's slip of the tongue in the North, Cyrus's attitude had become cold. So why was he striding so boldly into her world again?
'Have you found anything of value in me that you can use?'
Cyrus watched Ariana in her thoughts.
He wanted to brush away the hair that had fallen over her forehead. He wanted to wipe away the area where Fabric had caught.
Then, the scene he had seen earlier came to mind, and anger welled up in him again.
'A little more.'
He should have caused Fabric pain. He didn't want to kill him so easily.
Cyrus watched Ariana throughout the party. He saw her wearily leave for the garden, and Fabric followed her secretly.
He followed, feeling like nothing good would come of it, but seeing the sight firsthand made him lose his senses. He couldn't suppress the urge to shred Fabric that dared touch Ariana's body and kill him.
There was nothing good in messing with the prestigious Count Geo family. Knowing this, even while being fully aware of it, he killed Fabric.
Just because he forcibly touched Ariana's body.
'I guess I'm more emotional than I thought.'
He always thought he was wrong about himself. He thought he was rational and cool-headed, but he's not. This makes him no different from the Crown Prince who tried to run away with his lover.
Cyrus unconsciously washed his face, and his eyes met Ariana's. Ariana spoke to Cyrus, who slowly lowered his hand.
“Are you still worried? Should I help you?”
The words "You can only help me now, do something about my feelings," lingered in his throat. Cyrus swallowed the words he almost blurted out.
"What can you do for me, Princess? Will you fight the Geo family on my behalf?"
“If you want, I can do it. Do you want it?”
He couldn't stand how cute and adorable Ariana was when she asked questions in a slightly provocative way.
What on earth did you eat to be so pretty?
“That’s okay.”
He guesses it won't work.
It was the first time he met Ariana after becoming aware of his own heart.
My sky. My world. My sun.
Those words almost came out of his mouth several times. It occurred to him that it wasn't Fabric's head that was acting out, but his own.
“The Princess is well prepared for the social season.”
“Will the Northern Lord remain in the Empire until then?”
"Yes."
“What’s going on? You don’t like parties.”
“Because it’s cold.”
"Yes?"
“It’s cold on the way back to the North.”
Because the world without you is so cold.
Cyrus swallowed the words that were on his lips and smiled faintly.
“I’m planning to go back when the weather gets a little warmer.”
***
Count and Countess Geo, unable to believe that their son, who had gone to the Eastern Little Lord's party, had returned with his head cut off, fainted. Count Geo, still reeling from the unchanging reality upon awakening, went to see Empress Aelra and the Third Prince as soon as dawn broke.
By then, a rumor had spread that Little Count Geo had attempted to do something terrible to the Eastern Princess, but had been beheaded by the Northern Lord's sword.
Count Geo knelt before the Empress and the Third Prince, begging them not to let this go quietly and to avenge his son's injustice.
Harold, with his fabrics and decorations, was embarrassed, but the Empress, as always, calmly comforted Count Geo and said.
"I will appeal to His Majesty the Emperor personally. The Count should make himself comfortable and look after the Countess."
The Empress sent Count Geo a condolence gift and precious jewels. Count Geo bowed his head repeatedly, expressing his gratitude and begging for help before returning.
“Mother, will His Majesty the Emperor punish the Northern Lord?”
The Empress sighed softly at the Harold's question.
“Prince, did you know that the Northern Lord had feelings for the Princess?”
“...I knew he was interested.”
“You knew and tried to touch the Princess?”
"But Mother, that interest only occurred four years ago during the trial. I never dreamed it would reach the level of someone willing to behead a Count for the Princess."
"It's not good, Prince. It's really not good to be at odds with the Northern Lord already. At the very least, you should have taken action after you'd assumed the Crown Prince's position."
“Did you know I would do this?”
The empress watched her son's expression distort and then closed her eyes tightly.
Harold, always perfect, had changed somewhat after investing heavily in the perfume business and paying a heavy price. He had lost his confidence, became emotional, and sometimes acted like a spoiled brat.
We still have a long way to go, so what's the point of doing this? Shouldn't we hurry up and get married?
'Victoria is smart, so if she stays by the Prince's side, his heart might become stronger...'
She had thought it wouldn't be a bad idea to pair Ariana, the Princess of the East, with Harold. However, if the Northern Lord was interested in her, she would have to change her plans. There was no benefit to messing with the Northern Lord.
"Count Geo's family will be of great help to the Prince, so I can't just abandon them. I'll report this matter to His Majesty the Emperor and find a solution. So, the Prince, prepare to welcome the Princess of Bronte."
“Victoria...”
"Prince, come to your senses. From now on, don't touch the Eastern Princess. Do you understand?"
Harold, though dissatisfied, agreed and left. After preparing, the Empress headed to meet the Empress, not the Emperor.
The Empress, being more resolute than the Emperor, was believed to be unswayed by sentiment and to strictly maintain the distinction between public and private affairs. Furthermore, the Emperor tended to listen attentively to the Empress, so if the empress asked her to strictly address the Northern lord's issues, the Emperor would likely pay some attention.
But things didn't go as planned at the Rose Palace. The Empress, already aware of the party's events, was clearly displeased.
"I didn't know Little Count Geo would harbor such sinister thoughts at the party I attended. How dare he touch the Princess of the East? Your Majesty, you're on friendly terms with the Geo family, aren't you? You'd do well to be more selective about who you keep close to."
The empress had no choice but to simply say she understood and withdraw. So she went to see the Emperor, but he, too, showed an uneasy attitude.
Still, the Emperor was easier to deal with than the Empress, so the Empress managed to persuade him to give the Northern Lord a hard time. As promised, the Emperor summoned the Northern Lord to the palace.
***
Cyrus prepared to enter the palace. Isaac and Andrei watched him anxiously.
Isaac said.
"Cyrus, are you alright? You touched Count Geo, who is close to Empress Aela. Who knows what the Empress might have said to the Emperor?"
"Hmm."
Cyrus didn't seem particularly bothered. The two friends had no idea what he was thinking.
A few days ago, Cyrus seemed to have finally come to his senses after being brutally dumped by Ariana. He seemed to have lost his mind, but he quickly came to his senses and said he was staying in the Empire, so they thought he might confess his love to Ariana.
“Killing someone at the Princess Consort’s party.”
Andrey clicked his tongue.
"What on earth are you thinking? You're not trying to put the Princess Consort in an awkward position to force her to cling to you, are you?"
Cyrus answered, adjusting his cufflinks in front of the mirror.
"The Princess isn't the type to be embarrassed by such things, nor is she the type to cling to a man just because she's embarrassed. Andrei, you really don't have the discerning eye."
"Oh, right. Of course, I know that's not the kind of person Princess Consort is. But that's the situation right now. She's going to have her debutante ceremony and needs to make a grand entrance into society, but because of you, she's been left in a mess."
“A Princess soaked in blood. Isn’t that just wonderful?”
Isaac and Andrei looked at each other in astonishment. Cyrus continued.
“No one would dare touch the Princess with this.”
“...Yes, Cyrus. I understand your intentions, but it’s just too much... Even the Emperor has come forward.”
"Isn't that fortunate, Isaac? The Emperor only summoned me. I suppose that means he won't hold the Princess accountable."
"That's fortunate, but I'm worried that the image of the Princess Consort will be tarnished. Until recently, she was treated like a saint, but as soon as she arrived in the empire... Why on earth are you being so harsh?"
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